'She wasn't a fan of the direction the show was going in': Lisa Wilkinson is content with her decision to quit the Today show after pay dispute... as she makes her 'final visit' to Channel Nine

She shocked the nation last week after announcing her sudden departure from Channel Nine.

And insiders claim Lisa Wilkinson couldn't be happier with her decision to leave the Today show, saying she was unhappy with the direction the show was going in.

Sources close to the 57-year-old journalist told Confidential on Monday that the TV veteran had grown tired of Today's increasingly 'gimmicky' nature, and wanted the show to focus more on creating quality news-based content.

'She was not a fan of the direction the show was going in': Close friends of Lisa Wilkinson say she couldn't be happier with her decision to leave the Today Show last week

'She was not a fan of the direction the show was going in,' a close friend told the publication.

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'The constant attempts to go viral and things like the four mascots, they all annoyed Lisa who has always focused on the news element of the show.

The insider added: 'Lisa seems really happy since she made the decision, it is like a weight is lifted.'

'The constant attempts to go viral...they all annoyed Lisa': Sources close to the 57-year-old told Confidential on Monday that the TV veteran had grown tired of the show's increasingly gimmicky nature

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Nine for comment.

Having just celebrated ten years at the Nine Network earlier this year, Lisa's shock departure from the show comes after a pay dispute in which she demanded to be paid the same as her co-host Karl Stefanovic.

The network refused to agree on pay parity with the star, and led to the long-time employee announcing via Twitter she had quit out of protest.

Frustrated: Entertainment over news? It's been revealed Lisa wanted the show to focus more on creating quality news-based content

But that didn't stop her returning to the network's offices in Willoughy several times this week, in order to clean out her desk before a two-month break.

Pulling up to the Channel Nine studios in her flash white Audi sports car, a network insider confirmed to Confidential that Lisa was only there to tie up loose ends and nothing else.

'She has been in a few times during the week to clean out her desk': Lisa returned to Channel Nine's Willoughby office to 'tie up loose ends' several times last week

'She has been in a few times during the week to clean out her desk and other things,' the insider said.

It has since been revealed her co-host Karl Stefanovic had reportedly refused to allow pay parity with Lisa, with many close to the pair describing their relationship as 'strictly professional.'

It has also been rumoured Karl is set to pocket $2.3 million in a new deal tabled by the network, while Lisa was set to only receive $1.8 million.

'Strictly professional': It has since been revealed that Karl and Lisa's relationship may not have been as strong as it seemed, with it being revealed that Karl refused to allow pay parity with his female co-host